2023 NHL Draft: Philadelphia Flyers Draft Matvei Michkov 7th Overall

With the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers selected forward Matvei Michkov of SKA St. Petersburg.

Matvei Michkov (5’10”, 148 lbs) was one of the most polarizing prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft, thanks to his three-year contract in the KHL that lasts until 2026. Fortunately for the Philadelphia Flyers, that contract fits their rebuild timeline like a glove. After trading Kevin Hayes and Ivan Provorov, the Flyers can continue to get younger and stockpile picks who might end up playing alongside Michkov in the City of Brotherly Love in the near future.

Michkov was ranked the #2 EU Skater by NHL Central Scouting behind Leo Carlsson, who was selected second overall by the Anaheim Ducks. This season, Michkov had 20 points in 27 games for HK Sochi in the KHL. Michkov’s 20 points were only 10 fewer than Sochi scoring leader Artur Tyanulin, despite Michkov playing in 28 fewer games.

Rumors of Michkov being an option for the Philadelphia Flyers heated up in recent weeks, and was included in one of our mock drafts. Michkov impressed clubs interviewing him with his mature answers, and told NHL.com that “It is my dream to play in the NHL one day, but for now I will continue to work on my game and develop as a player at home”. GM Daniel Briere stated after the pick that Michkov “Wanted to be a Flyer…” and that they met with Michkov on multiple occasions. Michkov, reflecting on his selection via an interpreter, said being drafted into the NHL means a lot to him and his dream is to win a Stanley Cup.

Michkov will certainly give the Flyers the opportunity to do just that. The young Russian brings a winning pedigree to Philadelphia, having won the Kharlamov Cup a Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal in 2022. Michkov led the MHL playoffs in goals (13) and scored the Kharlamov Cup-clinching goal. Analyst Meghan Chayka compared him to Nikita Kucherov, whose U-17 points record Michkov snapped back in 2021.

Michkov is the first player selcted seventh overall by the Flyers since Ivan Provorov in the 2015 NHL Draft; a fellow Russian who was recently traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Corey Pronman, the senior NHL prospects writer at The Athletic, said in January that “[Matvei Michkov]’s one of the most creative and intelligent offensive players I’ve seen in the last few years. He combines his incredible puck skills with a true elite goal-scoring instinct. He anticipates the play and attacks defenders differently than other forwards and always seems to find ways to figure into scoring chances despite not being the biggest or fastest. He can make plays at a high level, but Michkov is a finisher who will score a lot of goals as a pro”.

Flyers fans can expect the 18-year-old sensation to be a part of a very good Philadelphia team when he comes over from the KHL.

2023 NHL DRAFT FIRST ROUND

1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C

2. Anaheim Ducks: Leo Carlsson, C

3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantilli, C

4. San Jose Sharks: Will Smith, C

5. Montreal Canadiens: David Reinbacher, D

6. Arizona Coyotes: Dmitri Simashev, D

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov, RW

8. Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard, RW

9. Detroit Red Wings: Nate Danielson, C

10. St. Louis Blues: Dalibor Dvorsky, C

11. Vancouver Canucks: Tom Willander, D

12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators): Danil But, LW

13. Buffalo Sabres: Zach Benson, LW

14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Brayden Yager, C

15. Nashville Predators: Matthew Wood, RW

16. Calgary Flames: Samuel Honzek, LW

17. Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks): Axel Sandin Pellikka, D

18. Winnipeg Jets: Colby Barlow, LW

19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning): Oliver Moore, C

20. Seattle Kraken: Eduard Sale, LW

21. Minnesota Wild: Charlie Stramel, C

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets): Oliver Bonk, D

23. New York Rangers: Gabriel Perreault, RW

24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers): Tanner Molendyk, D

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs): Otto Stenberg, C

26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils): Quentin Musty, LW

27. Colorado Avalanche: Calum Ritchie, C

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals): Easton Cowan, RW

29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers): Theo Lindstein, D

30. Carolina Hurricanes: Bradly Nadeau, LW

31. Colorado Avalanche (from Montreal Canadiens via Florida Panthers): Mikhail Gulyayev, D

32. Vegas Golden Knights: David Edstrom, C